SimCity is an open-ended city-building video game planned for the NES and SNES. However, only the SNES version was released. In 2005, Nintendo Power announced the discovery of a prototype cartridge, which was found in the desk of editor Scott Pelland.

In August 2017, two prototype copies of SimCity were discovered,[2] one of which appears to be the copy featured in Nintendo Power. The game was also showcased at 2017's Portland Retro Gaming Expo.[3] Additionally, Steve Lin, a member of the Video Game History Foundation, contributed a substantial amount of money to have the game's ROM preserved for educational purposes.[4]

On December 25, 2018, Lin released the game's ROM, and it is available for download from the Internet Archive.[5]

↑"Another of the games we hinted at last issue is the NES version of the home computer mega-hit SimCity, scheduled for Spring release. The city-building simulator is an engrossing strategy game that requires planning and brain power rather than quick reflexes to win. As the mayor of a growing city, you'll try to keep your citizens happy by zoning your city in a productive fashion. You also might find yourself rebuilding after a city crunching disaster such as a giant monster attack, tornado or earthquake. The early NES version we saw played a little different than the P.C. version, but it had all the same options." Nintendo Power, issue 18 (page 89).